15 Australians missing after flash flooding in Nepal, tour company confirms

A tour company has confirmed 15 Australians are missing after flash flooding devastated parts of Nepal. The group was traveling with US-based Himalayan Glacier Adventures through the Langtang Valley when the catastrophic floods struck Wednesday morning. Aside from the Australians, the group comprised nine Nepalese, two from the United Kingdom, two from Singapore, and clients from the United States and Russia.

Company founder and CEO Sagar Pandey stated that he has been unable to contact the group since the floods. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that 34 Australians were missing as a result of the flash flooding near the Nepal-China border in the Rasuwa District. Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed sympathy for the families of the deceased and missing, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is working to confirm the status of Australians affected by the disaster.

DFAT advises Australians in Nepal to exercise extreme caution due to the high risk of road accidents and natural disasters, as roads, transport, and infrastructure are significantly damaged. Other travel companies, including G Adventures and World Expeditions, have also confirmed that all their clients and staff are safe and accounted for.

They are taking necessary precautions and monitoring the situation closely, while urging travelers to heed local authorities' advice and avoid affected areas until it is deemed safe.